GM to shut Ohio SUV plant by end of 2008 (1200 jobs gone)

[UpInArms]

Source: Reuters

DETROIT, Oct 3 (Reuters) - General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Friday it would close an SUV plant in Ohio by the end of the year, cutting about 1,200 jobs, most of them hourly workers.

GM builds the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Saab 9-7X SUVs at the plant in Moraine, Ohio, which it said in June it expected to close by 2010 because of sharply reduced demand for larger trucks and SUVs.

U.S. auto industry sales have plunged 12.8 percent in 2008 through September due to a slowing in the economy, pressure on the housing market and, more recently, tight credit conditions.

Through September, GM sales were down 17.6 percent, including a nearly 23 percent decline in light trucks. Sales of the TrailBlazer were down 37 percent, the Envoy down 44 percent and the 9-7X down about 30 percent.

GM told the 1,100 hourly workers and 100 salaried employees of the plans on Friday, GM spokesman Chris Lee said.

"The market has continued to deteriorate and it's forecast to continue to deteriorate going forward," Lee said.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSN0335894220081003

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It certainly is a shame that GM was so short-sighted to believe that cranking out huge gas guzzling pieces of shit was the way to go - no futuring - no vision - no anything but lining Waggoner's pockets.

:sigh:

[Renew Deal]

1. It looks like December will be an extraordinarily ugly month for unemployment.

:hide:

[OhioChick]

2. Ohio is already huuuurting..... n/t

[Steelworker In OH]

3. Yes we are

I had to go to a class for unemployment on wendsday, they said it was the biggest class they've ever had because of the number of people recieving benifits. I was one of the few in the class that actually had real hopes of going back to work in the near future.

However, my company makes seals for Moraine, so it may cost us a little business in the future, but hopefully we'll get some business to replace it. The auto industry sucks all the way around right now.

[OhioChick]

4. I'm sorry to hear of your situation and wish you well.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[ingac70]

8. Welcome to DU...

I took a buyout from Ford last year. I was a third generation Ford employee. It absolutely sucks what is happening.

[AndyTiedye]

9. Why Didn't Ford Build More Hybrids?

I'd really like to know why Ford hasn't put the full hybrid powerplant from the Escape Hybrid into more of their line.
They came out with that over 4 years ago, and it is still the most fuel-efficient vehicle in their line-up.



Why couldn't they have put that hybrid into a smaller, more aerodynamic car?
They'd have something that would be competing with the Prius then.

[ingac70]

10. Stupid management...

plain and simple. The CEO finally realized and stated there has been a fundamental shift in what the consumer wants only 6 months ago!

That hybrid technology should have been in a Focus or a Taurus long before it was in an SUV.

There was a waiting list for the that hybrid SUV. I worked for the glass division, and it was all we could do to make enough windshields for the Escape (aka Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute)

[AndyTiedye]

11. It Does Seem a Little Crazy that the Most Fuel-Efficient AMERICAN Car is an SUV

[Fenris]

5. Should have stopped making those a long time ago and retooled that plant.

All three of those trucks are horribly dated, fine examples of why badge engineering SUCKS. The "Saab" model was nothing more than a TrailBlazer with a slightly modified front end and a few interior touches that barely distracted from the fact that it was hideously overpriced. Shame on GM for not killing that ridiculous thing four years ago. How many fucking RWD, truck-based SUVs do you need?

[cosmicone]

6. But still, idiots in Ohio are still supporting McLame ...

if they were smart, McLame would be down by 20 points in Ohio and pulling out.

[OhioChick]

7. Guess you didn't get the memo:

Poll: Obama keeps lead in Ohio

50-42%

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/politics-3/122285786620620.xml&storylist=cleveland